Fractured mandates and post-poll coalitions are not new to Goa, which has had a history of political instability. This time round, after the counting of votes on March 11, the process became even more complex with the issue of government-formation being taken to court. With only 13 legislators in the 40-member Assembly, it was clearly going to be difficult for the BJP to stake a claim to power, but the single largest party, the Congress, was short of a majority too, winning 17 seats. Moreover, the Congress failed to get its own legislature party in order after the elections and was unable to make haste in choosing a leader and finding allies. Support was guaranteed to the BJP by the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party, which had been an ally in the outgoing government. With the Goa Forward Party and two independents also hitching their bandwagon to the BJP, it was evident that the party had the upper hand. In the absence of a pre-poll alliance, it is arguable that the Governor should have invited the leader of the single largest party to try to form the government. But there was no likelihood of the Congress being able to command a majority in the House without the endorsement of the MGP or the GFP and independents, something that, notwithstanding its protestations, the party fully well realised. The Supreme Court’s decision to not stay Governor Mridula Sinha’s invitation to the BJP to form the government may have, at least partially, blunted the criticism that she acted in a partisan manner. With the BJP winning the vote of confidence in the Assembly, a certain post hoc legitimacy has been established, but there is no escaping the fact that this happened in the shadow of a controversy.
While the party will be relieved to have returned to power, the BJP’s reduced tally in the Assembly elections is a reflection of a degree of dissatisfaction with its performance. Past State governments in Goa have had a reputation for rent-seeking and paying little regard to violations of environmental norms, especially by the construction, tourism and mining industries. The BJP, after coming to power in 2012, had promised to take steps to eradicate corruption and graft at various levels of the State’s administration, but its efforts were found to be lacking. Goa’s voters have this time clearly been looking for political alternatives, which is reflected in the success of smaller parties such as the GFP. That the senior BJP leader and Union Defence Minister, Manohar Parrikar, had to be roped in to take over as Chief Minister indicates that the party is aware of the challenges it faces in running a fresh government in Goa. Mr. Parrikar now has a chance to deliver on the pledge he made during his previous tenure, of delivering a better administration.
